Diamond Dons Earn Huge Come From Behind Victory, 13-8 Over Fresno State :: USF Smashes Season High 19 Hits, Scores Season High 13 Runs

March 18, 2008

(San Francisco, CA) - San Francisco earned an exciting 13-8 come from behind victory over Fresno State at Benedetti Diamond on Tuesday afternoon. The Dons (9-10) smashed a season high 19 hits, and the 13 runs are also a season best.

Fresno State (8-10) took advantage of a shaky Dons starter, junior left-hander Evan Fredrickson, and held a 5-2 advantage through four and a half. The Dons first two runs came off solo homeruns by freshman center fielder Connor Bernatz and sophomore catcher Ryan Lipkin (his first as a Don). USF, however, would take the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Senior first baseman Mitchell Bialosky led off the inning with a solo homerun to right field. An out later, junior left fielder Zack Kim doubled to left center and advanced to third on Lipkin's infield single. Senior shortstop Tavo Hall doubled home both Kim and Lipkin. To cap the scoring, Hall crossed home after two consecutive singles by senior second baseman Joey Railey and Bernatz.

USF broke it open by plating six in the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out, sophomore third baseman Derek Poppert reached base on an error by Bulldogs senior shortstop Todd Sandell, scoring two. The bases were then quickly reloaded when senior right fielder Kyle Morgan was hit by a pitch. Bialosky singled to center, scoring two more. Junior designated hitter Drew Johnson doubled to center, scoring Morgan, followed by a Kim single that plated Bialosky.

Bernatz led the Dons at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double, a homerun, two RBI and two runs scored. Bialosky was 3-for-5 with a double, a homerun, three RBI and two runs scored. Kim was also 3-for-5, adding a double, an RBI and a run scored. Lipkin went 3-for-4 with a homerun, an RBI and three runs scored. Hall went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Railey, Poppert, Johnson (double), and senior pinch hitter Matt Lieb all had one hit in the contest.

Freshman left-hander Garrett Luippold (2-0) earned the win in relief, allowing two earned runs off two hits, no walks and three strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Fredrickson earned the no-decision after giving up five earned runs off four hits, six walks and eight strikeouts in 4.0 innings.

Bulldogs junior right-hander Holden Sprague (0-2) took the loss, allowing four earned runs off five hits, one walks and one strikeout in 2.0 innings. Senior right-hander Clayton Allison started for the Bulldogs, earning the no-decision, allowing four earned runs off six hits, no walks and three strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Junior second baseman Erik Wetzel went 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored to lead Fresno State at the plate.

USF returns to action at Benedetti Diamond this Thursday in game one of a four-game non-conference match-up with Fairleigh Dickinson. First pitch is set for 2:30 PM.